Descriptive Details and Their Purpose Highlight the details in the passage. There appear to have been at least six musical events, four for men and two or more for boys. Boys played the lyre and solo flute (aulos), while for the men there were singing to one's own accompaniment on the lyre, singing to the flute, playing the kithara and playing the solo flute. The kithara was the more prestigious instrument, and attracted far higher cash prizes than did the flute. –The Ancient City, Peter Connolly and Hazel Dodge Which statement best explains the way the author uses description in the passage? The adjectives show the appearance of the musical instruments. The adjectives show the purpose of the musical events. Nouns provide information about specific instruments played. Nouns provide details about the different people who played the instruments.